Qatar vows to meet Japan’s energy needs

Qatar will continue to help Japan meet its rising energy needs, particularly in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, said HE the Chairman of Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah. “We have dispatched several LNG cargoes to Japan immediately after the tragic event. Only Qatar could have done that because of our production capabilities and fleet of LNG vessels we own,” al-Attiyah told Gulf Times yesterday.
Terming Japan a very “valuable” customer of Qatar’s oil, LNG, LPG and petrochemical products, al-Attiyah said: “We always remember the fact that Japan was our first partner in the mega gas projects. In the early 90s Qatargas had signed long-term LNG supply agreement with Japan’s Chubu Electric. The relationship continues.”
Al-Attiyah said the original contract between Qatar and Japan was for the supply of 6mn tons of LNG annually.
“In the last 15 years we have dispatched many extra LNG cargoes to Japan. Not once did we falter…this shows our reliability as a producer and supplier,” al-Attiyah said.
A key element of Qatar’s solid relationship with Japan is the economic partnership between the two countries. Japan today is Qatar’s largest trading partner, he said.
Since Qatar embarked on a massive energy infrastructure development and construction plan, leading Japanese companies have played a very effective role in the successful planning and execution of such projects.  
“They provided us with investment, technology, know-how, a stable and guaranteed off-take of our production.  They also helped introduce and maintain the best practices in health, safety and protection of the environment and for which Japan
is well known,” al-Attiyah said.   
On the oil and gas sector, al-Attiyah said: “Qatar has also become one of the largest and most reliable and stable supplier of LNG, crude oil, LPG and other products to Japan particularly after the Fukushima disaster, which affected the country’s nuclear power generation and required additional fuel imports. This form of co-operation became a model of win-win partnership”.  
He said: “As Qatar develops and its priorities and needs change and expand to other areas outside the oil and gas sector, Japanese companies have been quick to recognize the country’s  potential in areas such as transport, power and water, small industries, health, education, sports, tourism and literally all other activities required to develop a diversified and sustainable economy.  
“I have no doubt those companies who pursue actively and consistently these opportunities will be ultimately rewarded. Already, many Japanese companies have won contracts in Qatar in both the energy and non-energy sectors,” al-Attiyah said.
Gulf Times
28 August